Seek and Ye Shall Be Surprised at What Ye Find

While I continue to search (unsuccessfully) for an illusive document, I came upon a grant proposal I wrote and won in 1994. The Seattle Weavers Guild has an annual grant competition which I have applied to several times, but this is the only winner which I would like to share with you. My main reason for sharing this is if you ever have an opportunity to apply for a grant, do it. Whether you win the grant or not, writing it all down helps you focus.

PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION: (copied unedited although I am a bit embarrassed as I was rather full of myself. Thankfully I was limited to a single page). I will show you what I wove in the next post.

WHAT DO I WANT TO DO?

In the past few years, I have begun teaching and speaking about two original techniques, Easy Ikat and Color Horoscope Weaving, that I have developed over the past fifteen years. All of my textiles represent a unique and extensive study of the use of color in weaving. My Easy Ikat technique demonstrates a method of bringing spontaneity, flexibility and ease to a highly structured ancient technique. Color Horoscope Weaving, on the other hand, fulfills a need to create one-of-a-kind functional textiles within tightly structured boundaries. A working palette of twelve colors multiplies into more than five billion color possibilities. A long tradition of symbolic textiles in countries as diverse as Guatemala and Scotland come to life in these contemporary representations.

Most recently, I've embarked in a new direction, inspired by my fascination with Kente cloth. The result has been several blankets composed of panels that I have invisibly joined together.

My grant proposal is to combin all three (Easy Ikat, Color Horoscope Weaving, and invisibly joined panels) and create a wondrous blanket with written and photographic documentation suitable for publication.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

My recent intense participation in the Seattle Weavers" Guild has demonstrated my ability to inspire other weavers. Sharing my design and weaving techniques and especially sharing my process is significant because it allows others to participate in the satisfaction and fulfillment I derive from my craft. Having the opportunity to join diverse interests, methods and cultures into a single project is important as well. Creation that echoes the voices of ancient weavers is a timeless connection to humanity.

HOW DOES IT CONTRIBUTE TO MY CROWTH AS A WEAVER/TEXTILE CRAFTSPERSON?

Since "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts", this proposal will represent a quantum leap for me. I usually rely heavily on my innate design and color sense to achieve spontaneity in my weavings. Combining these three techniques will result in many new and unexpected colors and designs, which will require the use of a more disciplined approach (sketches and sample warps).

BUDGET:

Yarn---$500

TIME FRAME FOR PROJECT:

I will present a morning program in October 1995 with slides and several weavings.

A Serendipitous Valentine

Today I was photographing all of the scrap cashmere left over from the cashmere sweaters I have been un-knitting these past couple of years. Imagine my surprise when I viewed this picture! I didn’t crop or alter it in any way.

EVEN WITH ENTANGLEMENTS, THE HEART ALWAYS SHINES THROUGH.

Out of the Washer and into the Dryer

Above: before laundering---Below: after laundering


I don't usually measure, so this was interesting for me. The Many Shades of Hope
just off the loom measured 28" wide x 146" long. After washing in cold water on gentle, it measured 27" wide x 138" long. Just out of the dryer (delicate, low heat), it measured 25" wide x 124" long.

Cashmere come from a goat and is not like merino wool. It doesn't felt. (easily) I found this out from a friend of mine who was trying to get cashmere to felt by washing in the machine and drying in the dryer. She was having trouble getting the sweaters to felt up so she could cut and sew them into patchwork scarves.

Here is another interesting tip I learned from another weaver in my guild. Put 3 tennis balls in the dryer, and the weaving doesn't become all twisted up and wrinkled. I am waiting for my next door neighbors to complain about all the drumming, but it really makes a huge difference.

I know it is scary to toss a weaving into washer and even scarier into the dryer, but try it with a sample first.

The first time I put a merino wool blanket in a front loading washer on regular wash cycle and watched in horror as it shrunk 40% before my very eyes taught be a valuable lesson. Somewhere I have pictures. I'll have to see if I can find them while I continue looking for the missing piece of paper.

On Grace, Off Gary

It seemed like "The Many Shades of Hope" had been on Gary forever (actually only a month) , but today it jumped off the loom and chased me across the apartment.

I was experimenting with various random cashmere wefts.

I will toss it in the washer and dryer tomorrow and then take some sexy pictures of it.


"The Many Shades of Hope", as a lark, climbed onto Grace. You can see a little bit of the warp "Peace" peaking through. I'll tell you more about the peace scarf soon.


Now I have to go back and continue my search for a missing document. I know this has happened to you, a piece of paper goes missing. Grrr

Sock-A-Doodle-Do!

Here are some lovely socks that have come to live with me! Did I ever mention how much I love hand-knit socks? I don't know anything about these socks except they fit me perfectly and they were made by Erin. If you want to know the specs, pop over to her blog and give her an ask.

Click here to see the last pair of sock I received.

INSPIRED BY BONNIE

Theresa Davies recently bought a kit from me. These are her words:

Here is all 12 feet of the rug loosely based on the horoscope gamp. I had a lot of fun with this.

I did have to do some creative interpretation, as some colors I didn't have a lot of in my stash of quilt fabric, but I came close. I never would have guessed that true red was so lacking in my collection of fabrics. I had lots of good yellows and greens though and plenty of indigo.

Oh gosh, I couldn't imagine doing the rug exactly like the draft. I did find that with the rug and weft, it isn't the individual shots, it's the rug as a whole.

Worrying over each shot is, well, needless, but then again...maybe I'm not so much free as a bit lazy

My husband was so excited he hung it before I could get some close ups!

Take care and when I get that formal warp done I'll be sure to send you a pic.

For all those who have ordered kits from me, remember if you send me a picture and some words about your process and I post it here---I will send you a complimentary horoscope draft.

In case you already have, and I have not sent you a draft, please remind me. It is merely a senior moment.

Byways in Handweaving

There came a time back in 1969 I was living in Connecticut, and I didn't have a loom. Byways in Handweaving literally saved my life. I worked my way through the book cover to cover, and had a wonderful experience.

This was not the first time that Mary Meigs Atwater changed my life though. I first got this book in 1960 (although I only looked at the pictures then). It showed me another path---away from commercial weaving and industry for which I was being trained.

I know everybody has heard of and possibly tried inkle weaving, but I had never seen or heard or it back then. I taught myself from the book and created the piece you see below.


Yes, I was crazy even then. What I find most interesting about this vest is it shows the seeds of weavings to come in the following decades--piecing together smaller weaving--and bands of vivid color. I don't know what became of this vest. I sold it to someone now lost in time. I was thrilled to find these slides. In many ways it is better than having the actual weaving. You know it would look terrible on.


If you were alive back in the 60's, you know that fringe was very important.